Episode 18.2
June 16

Jason: That's Good Eats, right there.
Gordon: Does that come with the Iron Alf Special? I love Iron Alf. The special ingredient - Persian Kitty :D
Jason: We are going to get letters.
Chico: Just as a reminder... We don't condone cooking your cat.
Gordon: We don't?
Chico: We don't.
Gordon: Awww
Chico: Back on WLTI with you, and we had seven debuts since last we saw each other... perfect for another round of Maximum Strength Capsule Reviews.
Gordon: Yay!
Jason: Sounds good. Let's get to it.
Chico: Lets.

First up, MTV offers Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods.

	LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL: THE SEARCH FOR ELLE WOODS - MTV
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	B	B	B	NO GRADE	B

Chico: This strikes me as the kind of show that would be on Bravo... were it not on MTV.
Jason: This was a huge surprise for me. I loved how the people who produce the show are the judges. The challenges make sense. The show makes sense. B.
Chico: Like Grease, you're casting an unknown as a Broadway lead.. Unlike Grease... the show's judges are doing all the grunt work. And like J says, everything about it makes sense. This is a big surprise success... a big... pink... surprise success... B.
Alex: (didn't see it, I'll stay out of this one)
Chico: The only thing keeping this from getting an A are the players... I never was a fan of stage singing. Seemed fake.
Gordon: They actually did a nice rendition of the show. I thought that this was going to turn into Grease: Redux, but I was pleasantly surprised. And the singers are talented. B.
Chico: This is an easy average (R2D2 bleeps).... a B for Legally Blonde.
Jason: I love to be proven wrong on this.
Gordon: Why not? you're used to it.
Jason: Hush.
Chico: Next up...

CBS's Million Dollar Password... Three shows in, and it's currently the number one primetime studio game show in America.

	MILLION DOLLAR PASSWORD - CBS
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	B-	C	B-	B-	C+

Chico: For the most part, you have celebs that know the game. For the most part, you have players that know the game. The only thing is... it's the game... in fast forward.
Jason: This one is tough. Although this isn't the password we know and love...the format works for me. Some of it is good...some of it not so much. For me...a solid B-.
Alex: I still don't think the show works that well as a million dollar show, but it is definitely growing on me. I'm starting to enjoy it a bit more. I just still dislike the presentation greatly, especially the audience. B-.
Gordon: It's ok. It should be much better. I'm really surprised that this show, with all of the tradition of Password, isn't better and it's just Power of 10 meets the lightning round. Can I have a Big Board Please?
Chico: ... I'll allow it.

Gordon: Subject: Dr Pepper's Prescription for Password. The 'hour' is really only 2 half hour shows crammed into an hour.
Chico: Yeah, we know. Easily Syndicable should Fremantle want to go that route.
Gordon: Yes. Now I'm going to get into 'Creator Mode'. This is to make a better game - not to necessarily make it a show that's more marketable. Part #1: Start with 4 contestants. Play 'Password: All-Stars', with each celebrity giving a clue to a word. First 2 people who get 2 right get to continue. Part #2. The 2 remaining players play Classic Password. With 10 points for the first clue, 9 for the second, etc. The winner gets $5,000 and moves to the next Phase. Part #3. The surviving player gets to play Super Password with THE RETURNING CHAMPION. The first puzzle is $1,000. Each puzzle after that is $2,000. $5,000 wins the match, or basically, the person who wins 3 puzzles first.
Chico: Seems like you're trying to cram every version of Password into an hour... is it even possible?
Gordon: With the speed they play it at, it should be easy. Part #4. Bonus round. that says the same, but you only play ONE level at a time. It starts at $25,000, and if you win the level, you return on the next show and play at the next level. One loss and you're done, and we get new contestants. In order to win the million, you must be a 5 time champion. In other words - earn the money.
Jason: Much better game if you ask me.
Chico: Yeah.
Jason: Not Power of 10 meets Millionaire...as it is now.
Chico: You know what it reminds me of... the Sierra $100K Pyramid release a few years back.
Gordon: All-Stars - 10 minutes. Regular Password - 10 minutes (if you remember, a game only took ten minutes in the Ludden Version), and then a half hour for Super Password. Which would be normal. Different variations of the show, and it fits nicely in an hour.
Chico: The speed of the current show, again, speaks to the economics of the game show today. Less episodes... more if it proves themselves.
Gordon: But this would actually save the show money, because you're not giving out $50,000 every show.
Chico: So while Gordon's idea works... as much as I hate to admit it :-)...
Gordon: The password is...Bite Me.
Chico: ...We're judging the show CBS chose to air. And I think B- about covers it. Good players. Good host. Game... eh?
Gordon: It's not a terrible show show - but it is a disappointment to people who wanted to see the Password Mythos. It could be so much better. C.
Chico: So we get a (bloop bleep bloops) C+ out of it. Could be better... Next...

ABC brings back the Mole... same game, new host...

	THE MOLE - ABC
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	B	D	NO GRADE	A	B-

Gordon: Same problems with the show. No rhyme or reason. No reason to follow around and figure out who The Mole is.
Jason: Didn't see it (pass)
Chico: It's a hidden playalong.
Gordon: And I'm still convinced that a big-breasted woman is the Mole. D for the D Cups the Mole is wearing.
Chico: Seems like this show is the redheaded stepchild of the reality TV world.
Alex: Oh well, I still dig it a lot. Tons of fun to watch and I'm enjoying trying to find out who The Mole is. A.
Chico: I mean, it's good, but outside of following who the Mole MAY be (and it'll be rather foolish if it's a dude...)... there's a game where interplay is EVERYTHING. I still like it. Apparently I'm probably the only one.
Alex: *waves*
Chico: This is what happens when you put it up after the Bachelorette. Okay, Alex, too. So that gets a B from me.
Gordon: Maybe after watching the Bachelorette, your brain is so dumbed down that you think The Mole passes as a form of entertainment.
Chico: That's a valid explanation. That totals to... (bloop bleep bloop)... a B- ... Next up...

Hot moms get a forum in TV Land's "She's Got the Look".

	SHE'S GOT THE LOOK - TV Land
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	C+	C	NO GRADE	NO GRADE	C

Chico: It's essentially "America's Next Top Model" meets "Last Comic Standing" mechanics... for MILFs.
Jason: Pass. Didn't see this one.
Alex: Same as Jason.
Chico: Seems like the players that do advance will be the ones that take this seriously. And that is a good thing. Also good... the show takes itself that seriously as the players would.
Gordon: it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. It's still a pale imitation of America's Next Top Model, but the premise still works. The only problem I have is that the judges are not as strong as America's Next Top Model's judges.
Chico: Yeah. I had a problem with that. Then again, you take a copy of the original. Of course it isn't going to be as strong.
Gordon: It does - but I expected something more out of the box that would reflect the age of the women - and I didn't get it. All of the stunts are the same thing that I could see on America's Next Top Model.
Chico: I give it a C+.
Gordon: Could be better. Could be worse. it just...is. C for me.
Chico: And a C for the show. Oh yeah... (Bleep, bloop bleep) Forgot about that.

Next... TLC gets its game on with "Your Place or Mine"

	YOUR PLACE OR MINE? - TLC
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	C	C	NO GRADE	C-	C

Chico: It's a family game... with a few rooms (and a new car) on the line. It's like Extreme Home Makeover... meets Millionaire or something
Jason: Again...pass.
Gordon: Stop me if you've heard this before. It's Trading Spaces with some panache.
Chico: Right. At least it's good to see John Moschitta working again. Too bad I can't say the same for the host.
Gordon: And again, it's nothing new that we haven't seen from TLC's line of shows in this genre
Chico: It's a barebones trivia game combined with ... yeah, Trading Spaces. But it seems like Cameron Mathison is just dragging the show down... I want to ask him... dude, what the hell are you looking at?
Gordon: Let me requote myself, here. Could be better. Could be worse. it just...is. C for me.
Chico: Can I steal your quote?
Gordon: please do.
Chico: Could be better. Could be worse. It just... is. C.
Alex: Blah. Found it bland and boring, and the scoring system was just screwy. Just didn't care for it at all. C-.
Chico: (Bloop bleep bloop) It spit out a C and a Broyhill home office.:-)
Gordon: Next one?
Chico: Next...

Another game on TLC... Master of Dance...

	MASTER OF DANCE - TLC
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	F	F	NO GRADE	NO GRADE	F

Chico: It's basically a self-contained season of "So You Think You Can Dance" with Joey Lawrence has host.
Jason: Pass redux.
Alex: Pass.
Gordon: You know the phrase I keep using so far?
Chico: "It's not good, it's not bad, it just.. is?"
Gordon: Yes. I'm not using it this time. This is terrible.
Chico: How terrible is it?
Gordon: If you would personify people with shows - this would be watching Shelly Winters and Drew Carey doing the 3 minute waltz in 60 seconds.
Chico: Ew.
Gordon: We can take a bunch of people, have them make some sort of jerky movements, have some people lie to their face on how good they are, and then have one media ho inexplicably advance. Oh Boy!
Chico: It's like Pants off Dance Off... without the exhibitionism.
Gordon: One of the advancing media hoes...was Jack Benza, who won the Whammy Tournament of Champions and who has been on over 30 game shows.
Alex: He's on another show? Good lord.
Jason: And I thought I was bad :-)
Chico: Oh. My. God. Can we just fail the show now and move on?
Gordon: I'd rather be watching Pants Off Dance Off with the celebrities being Danny Bonaduce, Ralphie May, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller and Jason Block.
Jason: Yuck.
Chico: That says it all right there. I'll repeat myself. Can we fail this show and move on?
Gordon: Yes. F.
Chico: F. I wish Joseph would've found a better show to greenhorn himself on...So that gives the Average-o-Matic... (bloop bleep bloop... raspberry) an F. Finally..

Celebrity Circus...

	CELEBRITY CIRCUS - NBC
	CHICO	GORDON	JASON	ALEX	AVERAGE-O-MATIC
	D	F	F	F	F

Chico: The good... Joey Fatone is again surprisingly adept at hosting. The bad... quoting Cat Deeley now... the Jedges! The ugly... Celebrities reaching for their 15 minutes part deux... And I mean REALLY reaching. This was a strike show. I'm going to go with a D on this one.
Jason: I was so rooting for an accident. F.
Gordon: We did get one, as Weeman almost turned into a wee mess on the Wheel of Death. Fortunately for him, he had a safety wire. Unfortunately for us, we needed that in watching the show.
Chico: A safety wire?
Jason: They all did. They didn't want death and destruction on the show.
Alex: They didn't want me watching then. F.
Gordon: I'll settle for destruction to just the show itself. F.
Chico: That leaves us with a (bleep bloop bleep... raspberry) F. I think the board got sick on that. Those are your Capsule Reviews... Use as directed.
Gordon: After watching those shows, I think I have a headache.
Chico: Here. Have some more Password and Legally Blonde...
Gordon: Can I just have some Wheel of Fortune Alphabet Soup?
Chico: It's in the oven until September 8. Meanwhile, it's time for a break.

(Brought to you by Million Dollar Classic Concentration. Can You Solve the Puzzle with only 2 squares revealed? Joey Fatone hosts.)

Chico: That's just evil.
Jason: Way evil.
Gordon: You'd watch though, wouldn't you?
Jason: Yes.
Chico: Only because it's concentration. Now that Password's on the air, THAT's officially overdue for a reimagining.
Alex: Who knows.....
Chico: Anything can happen. Welcome back folks.
Jason: Welcome.
Gordon: And because it's Father's Day Weekend, we HAVE to do...Who's Your Daddy.
Jason: Of course.
Chico: So what are we doing, daddy?
Gordon: The theme, and since we're talking about daddies... We'll be talking about the 'Daddy' of shows - the shows that have spawned other shows.
Jason: Ok
Gordon: Starting with...

Iron Chef

Chico: Okay. That predates... well, everything.
Jason: Pretty much
Gordon: Next up... Ninja Warrior
Jason: Below Chef
Chico: Agreed.
Alex: I go below

Iron Chef -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Next one... Strictly Come Dancing (or Come Dancing)
Jason: Below Chef
Chico: Between Chef and Ninja
Gordon: No love for Dancing With the Stars?
Alex: Below everything for me at least. I never could see how watching people dance is entertaining, but whatever.
Chico: What, I'm an Iron Chef fan...
Jason: We are talking about this show....not the show it begat.
Gordon: Fair enough. I agree with Chico.

Iron Chef -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Next one...
Chico: As long as it isn't Millionaire, I should be good.
Gordon: Project Runway
Jason: What was the spinoff it came from?
Gordon: It spun off all of the Bravo Profession shows.
Chico: I'll abstain. I've only seen ONE episode.
Jason: Below Chef
Alex: I've never seen it so I'm out for this one.
Chico: k
Gordon: I'll go below Chef also - but barely.

Iron Chef -> Project Runway -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Next one... Who Wants to be a Millionaire?
Chico: Oh God.
Jason: Above Chef. Without it...the game show renaissance wouldn't be.
Chico: I hate you so much right now. I agree with Block here.
Gordon: Why do you hate me?
Chico: I'm torn between my love for Millionaire and my love for Iron Chef.
Gordon: You can hate me later.
Chico: It's almost like "Don't make me choose! DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE!"

WWTBAM -> Iron Chef -> Project Runway -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Next one... The Apprentice
Jason: Below Runway...
Chico: Between Chef and Runway.
Gordon: Ill go Under Millionaire
Jason: Survivor begat all of that.
Chico: So it averages to... Below Chef.

WWTBAM -> Iron Chef -> The Apprentice -> Project Runway -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Funny you should mention that, Jay... Survivor
Jason: Below Millionaire. Without it...the reality show genre wouldn't be.
Chico: Between Chef & Apprentice
Gordon: I think it had a higher impact than Millionaire did. It was the first show to beat Millionaire in the ratings. Id put it at top.

WWTBAM -> Survivor -> Iron Chef -> The Apprentice -> Project Runway -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Next one... Pop Idol
Chico: Between Millionaire and Survivor
Jason: Above Millionaire. The biggest impact in the history of TV in the 21st Century. It affects TV, Music and Movies.
Gordon: I find it interesting that both of you are letting your quiz show bias take over. lol.
Chico: Not necessarily.
Gordon: I agree with Jason. This is the biggest cultural influence on America for 7 years - and still going.
Chico: But Millionaire proved that unscripteds can work in the here and now. So nyah.
Gordon: Point taken. Millionaire was the first.

Pop Idol -> WWTBAM -> Survivor -> Iron Chef -> The Apprentice -> Project Runway -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Finally, we have the...SPOILERS.... The Price is Right (Bill Cullen)
Chico: Hmm... interesting. The show did launch the granddaddy of all game shows... But this show on its own.. Wasn't THAT darn remarkable. Even though it DID have Bill Cullen, one of the all time greats. I'd say.... above Apprentice.
Jason: Thats about where I would put it for the reasons Chico said.
Gordon: I'm going to disagree. This was THE game show to watch back then. This is the second most influential game show ever. Under Millionaire. It averages out this way...

Pop Idol -> WWTBAM -> Survivor -> Iron Chef -> The Price is Right -> The Apprentice -> Project Runway -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Next one... Eurovision Song Contest
Jason: huh?
Chico: The only thing that came from this is ABBA. Below Ninja Warrior.
Gordon: Let me explain
Chico: Okay, Explain
Gordon: The Eurovision Song Contest was the first show to have...Text Message Voting.
Chico: That it?
Gordon: That it.
Jason: Still Below Ninja Warrior.
Gordon: Text Message voting and side contestant participation contests, which are featured in every show today. What's in the Case, Mob Money, etc.
Chico: Yeah, but that was a technological inevitability. The only thing.... that came from this.... is ABBA... BELOW Ninja Warrior
Gordon: But they were the first to do it.
Jason: So? Every song sucks on that show
Gordon: I liked it. Above Project Runway
Chico: You look at all the text-to-win shows... and that was going to be, again.. a technological inevitability

Pop Idol -> WWTBAM -> Survivor -> Iron Chef -> The Price is Right -> The Apprentice -> Project Runway -> Eurovision Song Contest -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: Finally...and this is Chico's Favorite... The Dating Game!
Jason: Below Price.
Chico: Dating Game actually had panache. Compare that to the rest of the pack... well, there is no comparison.
Gordon: You didn't like The Bachelor better than The Dating Game?
Chico: No way! You?
Gordon: I hated all of them. Below Ninja Warrior.
Chico: Above Runway.
Gordon: You're both sick individuals.
Chico: This coming from the sickest of the lot. :-)

Pop Idol -> WWTBAM -> Survivor -> Iron Chef -> The Price is Right -> The Apprentice -> Project Runway -> Eurovision Song Contest -> The Dating Game -> Strictly Come Dancing -> Ninja Warrior

Gordon: And that's it for this week. Pop Idol is the Daddy, Strictly Come Dancing is the baby, and Ninja Warrior is Jack Benza.
Jason: Oh boy.
Chico: You disagree, you know what to do.
Gordon: And we'll get to the end of this show - right after this...

(Brought to you by Text For Cookies. Hit the 'Send Text' button, win a cookie! $3,000 per text.)

Jason: ROFL
Chico: Sure it costs a lot to play... but the host is hot and she's wearing very little.
Gordon: Her name is Faddy Come Lately. Before we start, I'd like to make a few comments
Jason: Ok.
Gordon: First of all, as you know, we thank all of you out there for reading our show. We found out this week that a couple of honchos from a certain major TV show read us. And I'd like to say welcome aboard.
Chico: Wee! Welcome, honchos.
Jason: Yes, thank you.
Gordon: Second of all, I got an email from another major honcho, who suggested something, which I'd like to implement.
Chico: Do tell.
Gordon: He noted that although we take things from Pardon The Interruption, we never copy the exact same name - except The Big Finish. So he had a suggestion - which I liked. So we no longer will be doing THE BIG FINISH.
Chico: Ah. Well, Big Finish... it was a good little segment... but change is good.
Gordon: Instead we will be doing...THE SPEED ROUND!
Jason: New season...let's do it!
Alex: Hooray for changes.
Gordon: 2 Minutes on the clock..The Time Starts...Now! Will America's Got Talent be the new big dog on the porch?
Chico: Maybe.
Jason: WOOF WOOF. Yes. Yes. and Yes.
Alex: Yes and maybe, ha ha.
Gordon: I think so.
Chico: Password.. Renewal?
Gordon: Password...yes renewal - no to the Fall. CBS - PLEASE don't do to this like you did to Power of 10.
Jason: Yes it will be renewed. But if it goes to fall...bad news
Chico: Please god no. So You Think You Can Dance... first two gone. Who're the next two?
Jason: Not sure.
Gordon: Ill Say Jessica and Matt.
Jason: Oh and btw...if Nipa doesn't get her sorry behind booted next week off of Next Food Network Star this week. I will be very mad. Very bad diva move last week.
Gordon: I agree. Nipa will be next
Jason: And it was also a bad move for the committee to keep her. If I were them, she would have been gone. But that's me.
Chico: Agree. That was done for dramatic purposes. NO COMMITTEE THAT'S A BAD COMMITTEE!
Gordon: Speaking of writing, do we have any mail?
Chico: Why yes. Yes we do. First from Ben Wiles. Thanks, Ben!

Chico: Thanks, Ben. Makes perfect sense, really. And thanks for correcting me on that. I'll be standing in the corner as soon as the show ends.
Jason: Gordon, do you have the dunce cap or do I?
Gordon: Got it. (Hits the Street Smarts buzzer. Gives Chico the Dunce Cap)
Chico: *puts on dunce cap* Next mail.. From Barbara Taylor. Thanks for writing, Barbara!

Gordon: If there's a bet riding on this - you win.
Chico: There've been some 19 people to FIND the case... but none of them rode it to the end.
Gordon: No one has won the million - nor has anyone ever won more than a million on the show. The most so far is $750,000. Next email?
Chico: Next one is from Josh Johannesen.

Chico: Thanks, Josh. Thoughts?
Gordon: I'm going to disagree with Josh here. I think that the more contestants who play will get a better chance to do so. It's still a crappy 20% chance to win, but its better than 4.5%
Jason: I LOVE the fact contestants will be there 5 days. That means you have a total of 858 contestants over a season. Counting 39 weeks * 5 days * 22 contestants. That rocks to me.
Chico: Excellent chances. All things considered. Josh continues..

Jason: Agreed.
Chico: Thanks Josh... You're forgetting one crucial thing. That hellacious eliminator. Which, at its worst, takes nine minutes to complete.
Gordon: ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz
Jason: Snoooorrrrreeeeee
Chico: See what I mean?
Gordon: It eliminates my waking hours.
Jason: Did you guys say anything?
Gordon: You know there is such a thing as...oh I don't know...actual show?
Chico: Again, it's the economics of television. Sucky as they are.
Gordon: The problem is that its more of an economic of ratings - those are the bigger numbers. And decrease of action = decrease of ratings.
Jason: Makes sense to me.
Chico: And we've come to the crux of the conversation
Gordon: And that wraps up the mailbag
Chico: Guess that'll wrap up the show. Big thanks to Jason Block and Alex Davis for hanging out.
Alex: Thanks for having me.
Jason: Always a pleasure.
Chico: Don't forget.. E-mail! wlti@gameshownewsnet.com or Myspace.com/wltiongsnn.
Gordon: Thank you all again for reading. For Chico, this is Gordon saying Game Over
Chico: And spread the love :-)
Jason: And Happy Father's Day!